Keeton has big day, leads Utah State over UTSA

Contributed

SAN ANTONIO — Chuckie Keeton threw three touchdowns to lead Utah State to a 48-17 win over UTSA in a Western Athletoc Conference game on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome.

While the Aggies scored 48 points, coach Gary Andersen credited his defense with the road win.

“The defense played very well and did a nice job. They gave them a couple plays, but other than that, they were consistent and the first-team defense was solid,” Andersen said. “We had to scratch out the fourth quarter. It is difficult sometimes to get these games to end.”

Keeton was 27 of 36 for 340 yards. Utah State (7-2, 3-0 Western Athletic) was the first to score with a 2-yard pass from Keeton to Kellen Bartlett. Keeton later threw a 29-yard pass to Cameron Webb and a 16-yard pass to Joe Hill for touchdowns.

Nick Diaz had two field goals and Kerwynn Williams scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter. Williams and Hill each rushed for touchdowns in the third quarter.

“They didn’t block us. They knocked us down,” UTSA coach Larry Coker said. “They are the best I have seen at that. That’s hard to coach against because you don’t want to practice like that with your own players where you are chopping and cutting guys down low. They did a great job and were very impressive.”

Ryan Polite was 21 of 36 for 248 yards for the Roadrunners. Polite connected with Cole Hicks on a 23-yard pass for a touchdown for UTSA. But it was a 7-yard run by Evans Okotcha that gave UTSA (5-3, 1-2) its first touchdown of the afternoon.

Utah State blocked its fifth kick of the season in the first quarter as junior CB Devonta Glover-Wright blocked a UTSA punt.

It is obviously something that is important,” Andersen said. “I think coach (Bill) Busch did a great job of scheming that weakness. He showed it to the players and me earlier in the week.

“Overall, it was a great victory for us to go on the road and play well,” Andersen said.

Utah State is off to its best start since 1978. The Aggies host Texas State next Saturday.

• GAME NOTES: Utah State has now won eight-straight WAC games, setting a school record for most consecutive conference wins. The previous school record was seven-straight league wins during the 1979 and 1980 seasons. ...

Utah State had 12 different players catch a pass against UTSA. ... Utah State’s 522 yards of total offense are its third-most this year.